Chapter Fifteen
T en days later and he was finally free. The doctor had told him under normal circumstances he would have been in the hospital far longer, especially as his lung had been damaged, but it appeared Max’s blood had sped up the healing process.
Max. Being able to sit in the same room as him with his dad and brother was both heaven and hell. There was an obvious tension between the three, and at one point Rex had shouted at them to sort it out or get out. He wanted them there but not with the death glares.
Minho had managed to deflect many tense moments, and at one point Max had left. He’d been standing there being shouted at by Sammy then gone. Just teleported away. He kept in constant contact, but Rex knew he felt guilty over him being stabbed. He could feel it, and no matter what Rex told him, the guilt didn’t seem to ease.
Peter wheeled him outside and he looked up into the night sky. The stars shone bright, the air smelled fresh and there was no Max. Where are you? I’m leaving the hospital now.
I was asked not to be there tonight so they could spend time alone with you.
“Did you ask Max not to be here?” Rex snapped, anger rushing though him. “Well?”
“Just for one night, and he agreed.” Peter kept pushing him over to the car that Minho had waiting for them.
“Stop right now. I’m not coming anywhere with you.”
“Rex. I want one night with my son. That’s all I asked for.”
“You’ve done nothing but argue with him since I woke up. You seem to understand why we did it, but then you go off at him. I agreed with him! Me!” Rex reached down and grabbed the brakes. “Stop now!”
Peter stopped and stomped around to face him. “I’m your father. You will do as you’re told or else.”
“Or else? What? You’ll stab me?” Peter gasped. “I want my mate. I have tried to talk to you about everything, I have tried to reason with you, I have tried to understand this from your point of view. All I have asked is that you let me be with Max. He’s my mate and you know how important that is. I would be dead if it wasn’t for him.”
“You wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for him!” Peter shouted. A vein pulsed in his forehead and that only happened when he was truly pissed. “I had to sit and wait while they stitched you back together. I didn’t know if you would make it out alive. I lost your mom. I can’t lose you.”
“But you are! You’re forcing me to make a choice that I don’t want to make. I love you, Dad, but I love him too. I have always loved him. All we both ever wanted was to be able to live our lives without all the hiding and the lies and now that we can, you’re being like this!”
“While you live under my roof— “
The anger left in a rush, his body deflating. He wasn’t going to get through to Peter. “I’ll pack up and leave.”
“What?”
“I really wanted us all to live together. I wanted to give him the family he never had, but I can’t. I’ll go home and pack.” Rex stood, wobbled a little then straightened. He took small steps, heading to the car, catching the pained look on Minho’s face. “Don’t,” he murmured. “Just take me back.”
He got in the car, waited for Peter, and they drove in silence. Minho could have moved them, but Rex wanted to go by car. He’d been cooped up for days and he wanted to be outside, even if it was just in a car.
The tension in the car was so thick you could cut it with a knife, but he didn’t care. He wanted to get there, pack up, then leave. He wanted to be with Max. It hadn’t escaped his notice that for the last few days in the hospital, Max had only come to visit him when Peter and Sammy weren’t there. It hurt as well. In his head he’d had all these dreams of being with his family and Max all together, and the reality was so far from that.
“We’re here.”
Rex got out, ignoring Peter’s hand, and walked into the house and up the stairs to his bedroom. Can you come get me? I’m in my bedroom.
Max appeared and palmed his face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m coming to live with you at the cabin. I need to grab some things.”
“You don’t have to do that. We can still be together. They need time.”
“Max. I can’t carry on like we were, not now that we don’t have to. Just help me pack, please.”
Max kissed him slow and deep. “Give me a minute. I need to go somewhere.” He disappeared, so Rex grabbed his suitcase from his closet and grunted at the weight. Yep, the thing barely weighed anything, but right then it felt like a ton.
There was a knock on the door and Peter came in. “Can we talk?”
“Will you listen to me?”
Peter nodded and came over and sat on the bed. “I wish you could have come to me and told me about Max. It makes me wonder if I’m failing you because you didn’t. Especially when you found out about Minho. You could have said something then.”
“I wanted to but how could I tell you about Max? He’s Maxim’s son, and he was trying to find out their plans to warn you.”
“I know. He told me everything that happened that night and I saw the security feed from the cabin. One of the cameras caught him fighting. I know he did all that to keep you safe, but it hurts, Rex. I feel betrayed and I feel like a failure.”
“Dad, no—”
“Let me finish. I’m not angry at him.” Rex scoffed. “Okay, maybe a little but I’m angrier at myself. I didn’t notice that you were living this double life, and I find out about it after it put you in the hospital. You could have died, and I would have never known any of what you were going through or what you had experienced. Max told me you like horror and he likes sci-fi. That you’ve been teaching him because Maxim didn’t believe he should have a thorough education, and cooking, too.” Peter paused, staring down at his hands. “So much that I knew nothing about, and you were ten when you met. Ten, Rex. You kept this from me for eight years.”
“I’m sorry.”
“He came to me.”
“Who?”
“Max. Just now. He appeared in the kitchen and told me to speak to you.” Peter shook his head. “I’ve not treated him kindly and he still thought about you and what this was doing to us.”
“He knows how much I’d miss you.”
“I love you, Rex. I don’t want you to leave. I want you home with us.”
“Has Minho finally moved in?”
“While you were in the hospital, he moved the last of his belongings.” Peter stood then ran a hand over his head. With a heavy sigh, he faced Rex. “Don’t go.”
“I don’t want to, but I won’t leave Max. I’m all he has.”
Peter nodded. “If he doesn’t mind the tension, he can stay here. Things won’t be easy at first, but they’ll get better.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Don’t thank me just yet. You’re grounded until the New Year.”
“What? I’m grounded?” Rex shouted. Grounded till New Year’s?
“You lied to me for eight years. Be grateful it’s not until the next New Year. Now tell him to get his things. I’ve made chili.”
I’m grounded.
We heard.
Until New Year's.
“We can see the fireworks together.”
Rex spun and glared at Max, who had a huge grin on his face. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because I can be with my mate. I’ll make this work.”
“Ugh! This is so unfair.” Max chuckled and Rex shouted. “I was stabbed twice! I’ve suffered enough.”
“You’re still grounded,” floated upstairs, and Rex pulled a face, miming, ‘you’re still grounded.’
Max burst out laughing and kissed him. “Do you think you’re well enough for us to mate?”
Rex grimaced and shook his head. “Not here in this house.”
“Later when everyone is asleep, I’ll take us to our place.” The soft glow emanating from Max’s eyes had Rex gasping, his body hardening in response.
“They’ll know.”
Max shrugged. “We’re already in trouble. What’s a bit more?”
Rex threw his arms around Max’s neck. I love you.
Max grinned before kissing him. Love you too.